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In their giddiest moments, Mets decision-makers have a vision of a starting rotation for 2015, perhaps even late next season, boasting young, power arms that could make it the most formidable in baseball:
Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, Rafael Montero and Cory Mazzoni.
“That could take us a long way,” one Mets person said with a chuckle on Sunday. “If Montero is your soft-tosser, that’s pretty impressive. It's fun to think about, anyway.”
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That is not meant to slight major leaguers Jon Niese, Dillon Gee or even the surprising Jeremy Hefner. Niese, in particular, is almost certain to be here for years to come as the only lefty in sight, and one with an affordable contract.
It’s just that nothing excites baseball people like potential, especially power arms. And while the Mets know they may have to trade some of their young pitching for an impact hitter the franchise desperately needs, they grow more hopeful about their young arms practically by the day.
Syndergaard, especially; he’s the new phenom, with Wheeler in the big leagues now, showing the same type of stuff that again has scouts drooling.
“There’s a lot of buzz about him,” was the way GM Sandy Alderson put it on Sunday. “Every call I get (regarding trades) starts with, ‘What about Syndergaard?’ ”
Alderson all but hangs up at that point. Though he doesn’t say it, he doesn’t argue either when it is suggested that the 20-year old righthander has become an untouchable.
Indeed, another person in the organization says flatly, “We’re not trading Syndergaard.”
More likely to be dealt is Montero, a 22-year-old righthander. Or Mazzoni, a 23-year-old righthander at Double-A Binghamton, or even righty Jacob deGrom, a less-heralded prospect who has pitched well enough at Triple-A Las Vegas lately to make scouts notice.
Syndergaard started for the U.S. team, Montero for the World team, and each worked an impressive scoreless inning: Syndergaard got swings and misses at both his 96 mph fastball and his 78 mph curveball, a much-improved pitch for him this season, and Montero threw strikes with his trademark efficiency, working a 1-2-3 inning on nine pitches, his fastball mostly at 94 mph.
Not really sure why they included this Mazzoni guy in that list, I don't think he's anything special. But after watching yesterday's game I've got a lot more confidence in Noah and Montero. And now it sounds like if the Mets are to trade this year or the next for a better bat, Syndergaard won't be in the deal.
If we can get a solid bat in the offseason, or even a star at some point whether it's a trade or signing, and still manage to keep Harvey Wheeler & Syndergaard in the organization, I got a shitload of confidence heading in to 2017, lol.
